The first ever Healthy Buffalo Co-Ed Broomball League concludes in epic fashion as budding star Brandon Siclari nets the game winning goal in sudden death overtime with 17 seconds remaining.
Buffalo, NY- It was an epic journey thus far as the Healthy Buffalo Co-Ed Broomball teams battled through sub-arctic temperatures and the cold Lake Erie wind, while battling some of the areas finest broomball players at the Ice @ Canalside. It all came down to one final night of action. The stakes were high as the 36″ Dutchess of Canalside trophy stood watch over the final three games of the season.
The first game was a testy one as Sweepy Hallow frustrated #WEDEMBOYZANDGIRLZ, jumping out to a quick 3-0 lead behind the goals of captain Ramon Suarez Jr. and Christine Doherty. It got a little ugly midway through the final period as man in golden football helmet took a cheap shot behind the net against Sweepy Hallow’s Jonathan Dann. While Healthy Buffalo analysts found the cheap shot a little amateurish for a recreational co-ed broomball league, they were not surprised as emotions ran really high for the playoffs. Christine Doherty (4 points) added insult to injury with another late goal as Sweepy Hallow knocked off #WEDEMBOYZANDGIRLZ 8-0 to advance to the finals. It was an up and down season for #WEDEMBOYZANDGIRLZ. Their diverse selection of headgear ranging from equestrian, sparring, football and cycling combined with their heart and dedication (playing in a cast with a broken foot) made them fan favorites at times. Although they failed to get a notch in the win column, their camaraderie and teamwork gives them a lot to build off of for next season.
The other semifinals matchup pitted the Multiple Scorgasms against the Polar Vortex. In a breaking development Healthy Buffalo analysts learned that the Scorgasms captain Melissa Wollschlager was injured in a non-Healthy Buffalo sanctioned broomball league days prior to the Semis. While she could face penalties next season for the violations, her impact on the ice could be felt immediately. If the Scorgasms failed to advance and fall short of their title hopes, would they look back at this development and wonder what could have been? The fans came out in force for the Polar Vortex and chanted politely from the sidelines while waving their Polar Vortex sign. The fan support wouldn’t be enough for the upset as the Multiple Scorgasms controlled the game with their solid goalie play on the defensive end and Katie Mumbach (2 points) and Pat Sullivan (2 points) doing the damage on the offensive end. The highlight of the night for the Polar Vortex came in the third period when Courtney Banas scored her first goal of the season. In the end the Multiple Scorgasms pulled out the 6-2 win and punched their ticket to the finals for a matchup of Healthy Buffalo Co-Ed Broomball heavyweights.
The finals matchup was an instant classic. The kind of game that kids will watch and then grow up wanting to be professional broomball players. Analysts had Sweepy Hallow as slight favorites, but you could not tell that to the Scorgasms who elevated their game in the absence of their leader. Sweepy Hallow jumped out to a quick lead as Jeff Sipos netted the loan goal in the first period. In the second period two of the league’s top female stars stole the show as Christine Doherty netted a goal to make it 3-1, but only breifly as Katie Mumbach of the Multiple Scorgasms struck next to tie the game up at 3-3 and send it into overtime and guarantee a classic finish to the first season of Co-Ed Broomball @ Canalside.
The overtime period was tense as you could literally feel the tension in the air behind every advance of the ball and shot on net, followed by a sigh of relief as the ball was cleared from the opponents territory. With only seconds remaining it seemed certain that the game was headed into a shootout, until Ramon Suarez Jr. took control of the ball and flipped it up to Brandon Siclari who charged down the ice. There was only time for one last shot. He got within twelve feet of the net and let it fly and in it went over the goalie’s right shoulder into the back of the net. It was a classic finish to an awesome inaugural season. Sweepy Hallow 4, Multiple Scorgasms 3.
Their will be a long wait before Sweepy Hallow can come back to defend the title and the Scorgasms can look to avenge their loss. #WEDEMBOYZANDGIRLZ and the Polar Vortex will need to use this time wisely. Make prudent off-season personnel moves and train hard. In Season 1 the bar was set. What will unfold in Season 2 next winter? Stay tuned to www.y2t.e80.myftpupload.com to find out when details break on next season!
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